Illuminated sign



Aug. 6, 1946. T; F, MCFALL 3,405,266

ILLUMINATED 5 IGN Fiiea Feb. 15, 1944 [N VIN T OE 7752700 OEZ' [7742M.44TTOBNEY5 Patented Aug. 6, 1946 PAN 4 Claims. 1

An object of my invention is to provide a new type of luminous signwhich provides a luminous background for the characters supported on thesign. The device is simple in construction and attractive.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specificationand the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

Figure l is a perspective characters secured thereto;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 2-2 ofFigure 3, and

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken substantially along the line 33of Figure 2.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should beunderstood that various changes or modifications may be made within thescope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

A sign supporting characters is disclosed in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Thesign, indicated generally at E has an opaque semi-cylindrical base 21that is secured to lugs 22 by screws 23. The lugs 22 are integral withend plates 24 which in addition have side lugs 25, against which thesides of the base bear, and top center lugs 26. Angle members 27 extendthe length of the base and have their ends secured to the side lugs 25by screws 28. Ihe downwardly extending sides of the angles 2i carry tabsl3 spaced the desired distances apart for supporting the letters Dspelling the word Gifts. The character D may be hollow and may be madeout of any material desired. The characters may also be opaque,translucent or transparent.

Bolts 29 secure the tabs and the bolts also secure a translucentU-shaped shield 39 in place. The shield 39 encloses illuminating meanssuch as a globe or a luminline tube 32. The shield also acts as anilluminated background for the characters of the sign. Screws 355 securethe shield to the top lugs 28. u -shaped guides integral with the toplugs 26 and with,

View of a sign with !3 to the angles 27 the end plates 24 support andhold the shield in proper shape.

The globes 33 are received extend through =penings 35 provided in theend plates 24. The socket is secured to a support 37 by a standard screw33. The support in turn is attached to an annular shoulder 39 formed ina hollow opaque end piece 48 by screws 81a. Screws 4! secure the endplates 24 to the end pieces 40.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, thebe readily understood.

The character D may take any shape desired. The tabs secure thecharacters to the supporting surface.

in sockets 35 that operation thereof may In making the sign, the base2!, angle members 27 and shield 39 may be cut to form pieces of anydesired length. The sign is then assembled in the manner alreadydescribed. When the sign is lighted, the opaque ietters will stand outagainst an illuminated background. The tabs will be hidden from. I signmay be changed if desired by merely changing the characters. The sign isdesigned to be constructed by the purchaser who buys the necessary partsand then assembles the parts. 7

The angle members ii are spaced from the sides of the shield 39 by thethickness of the tabs l3 and this provides Ventilating slots 52 for thepassage of heated air therethrough. The sign is kept ventilated in thismanner, the heated air generated by the tubes 32 the slots 42.

I claim:

1. In a sign, a pair of supporting members spaced from and parallelingeach other, said supporting members having horizontal portions,characters mounted on the horizontal portions, a translucent U-shapedshield carried by the supporting members and bridging the spacetherebetween, and lighting means for illuminating the shield.

2. In a sign, a pair of angle members spaced from and paralleling eachother, a translucent U-shaped shield carried by the members and bridgingthe space therebetweemlighting means housed within the shield,characters placed on both sides of the shield and resting on themembers, and tabs for securing the characters to the members.

3. In a sign, a pair of angle members spaced from and paralleling eachother, said angle members having horizontal and vertical portions,characters mounted on the horizontal portions, ;abs secured to thevertical portions and to the characters for holding them in place, atranslucent U-shaped shield carried by the angle members and bridgingthe space therebetween with the exception of the thickness of the tabs,the space between the shield and the angle members providing ventilationslots, and lighting means housed within the shield.

4. In a sign, a frame having parallel horizontal portions for supportingletters, an inverted U-shaped member disposed between the horizontalportions and permitting light rays to pass therethrough, end pieces forthe frame and U-shaped member, and lighting means carried by at leastone of the end pieces and having its illuminating portion coincidingwith the end of the U-shaped member abutting the end piece.

THEODORE F. MCFALL.

The message of the passing through

